Yorùbá music is regarded as one of the more important components of the modern Nigerian popular music scene. Although traditional Yoruba music was not influenced by foreign music the same cannot be said of modern-day Yoruba music which has evolved and adapted itself through contact with foreign instruments, talents and creativity. Interpretation involves rendering African musical expression using a mixture instrument from different horizons.
Yoruba music traditionally centred on folklore and spiritual/deity worship, utilising basic and natural instruments such as clapping of the hands. Playing music for a living was not something the Yorubas did and singers were referred to in a derogatory term of Alagbe, it is this derogation of musicians that made it not appeal to modern Yoruba at the time. Although, it is true that music genres like the highlife played by musicians like Rex Lawson, Ebenezer Obey Segun Bucknor, Bobby Benson, etc., Fela Kuti's Afrobeat and King Sunny Adé's jùjú are all Yoruba adaptations of foreign music. These musical genres have their roots in large metropolitan cities like Lagos, Ibadan, and Port Harcourt where people and culture mix influenced by their rich culture.
Some pioneering Jùjú musicians include Tunde King, Tunde Nightingale, Why Worry in Ondo and Ayinde Bakare,Dr. Orlando Owoh, Dele Ojo, Ik Dairo Moses Olaiya (Baba Sala). sakara played by the pioneers such as Ojo Olawale in Ibadan, Abibu Oluwa, Yusuf Olatunji, Sanusi Aka, Saka Layigbade.
Apala, is another genre of Yoruba modern music which was played by spirited pacesetters such as Haruna Ishola, Sefiu Ayan, Ligali Mukaiba, Kasumu Adio, Yekini (Y.K.) Ajadi, etc.
Fuji, which emerged in the late 60s/early 70s, as an offshoot of were/ajisari music genres, which were made popular by certain Ibadan singers/musicians such as the late Sikiru Ayinde Barister, Alhaji Dauda Epo-Akara and Ganiyu Kuti or "Gani Irefin.
Another popular genre is waka music played and popularized by Alhaja Batuli Alake and, more recently, Salawa Abeni, Kuburat Alaragbo, Asanat Omo-Aje, Mujidat Ogunfalu, Misitura Akawe, Fatimo Akingbade, Karimot Aduke, and Risikat Abeawo. In both Ibadan (Nigeria's largest city), and Lagos (Nigeria's most populous city), these multicultural traditions were brought together and became the root of Nigerian popular music.language is very rich in songs and music, every Yoruba situation has a corresponding song, which is inspirational, educational. There are three catogories of Yoruba song, these are:Traditional song;Christian song and Islamic song.
Each of these songs is subdivided. For instance, the traditional song has:
Ceremonial song- sung at marriage, house warming, naming, anniversaries, chieftaincy installation, etc
Praise song- sung when a task is accomplished, or after victory in a war.
Burial/mourning song- when evil befalls, a catastrophe happen, death of a promising child, financial loss, disaster, epidemics, etc.
Traditional religious song- for festivals, masquerade, planting, harvest,
Christianity also has varieties of songs like hymns (sung at regular church service), devotional song (sung for a particular service-other than regular/congregational worship), burial sung (sung when burial service is held), and Christmas carol (sung during yuletide).
Islam also has several songs, there are regular, devotional, burial and ceremonial/festive songs.
Interestingly, Yoruba music of today is more of hybrid of the three categorized songs in terms of lyrics, styles and instruments. Through adaptation, certain Islamic and Christian songs are similar to the traditional song, a feature that is shaping and re-creating Yoruba music.The Yoruba Genre
Sakara– a mention of this genre of music, mind goes to late Yussuf Ọlatunji, Ẹgba indigene, Yoruba music with Islamic tonation. Although, Sakara has undergone changes by present day singers, yet its focus as praise and adulation song still remains. Instruments include Goje, (Yoruba violin) and Sakara drum.
Yoruba music influenced by Islam in style, tone, message, its purpose is to praise, and to eulogize. Goje, a two string fiddle is a major instrument for this music, and Sakara drum, one of the four major family drums in Yoruba land. It is popular among Ibadan, Ẹgba, and Ijẹbu.
Wéré music- is another version or a brand of Islamic styled Yoruba music. Originally, Wéré is used to call muslim faithfuls to early morning prayer and to get ready for fasting during Ramadan. The Ajiwere or Oniwere always took the lead among the group to perform the wake-up call.
Ajisari– as the name suggests, is another Islamic song similar to Wéré, use during the Ramadan. The difference between the (two look-alike) Islamic Yoruba songs are: Wéré is performed by a group with a leader, but Ajisari is performed solo. Two, Wéré is an all-night-wake-up song, on the other hand, Ajisari is an early morning song, prior to Sari (the meal before the fast commences).
Apala– is another Yoruba song with Islamic tone, it is used during Ramadan, but it has more musical instruments more than Wéré and Ajisari, prominent among its instruments is Ṣẹkẹrẹ (Shaker).
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